"People love to start rumors about celebrities. Sometimes it is not a big deal, but sometimes people can say some really nasty things about you and it can have a negative affect on your life, your future, and your family."

Hi guys! I found the sentences above on a website. I Googled "affect" and it is a verb, not a noun. Why did the writer use it as a noun in this situation?

I get affect and effect mixed up all the time. Sometimes, it's easy: "affectation" is never confused with "effectation", which I don't believe is even a word. Is there a mnemonic that helps to keep the two straight (like "I before E, except after C, and when sounded like A as in neighbor and weigh").